being a mixt company consisting of good and bad And in this acception it is taken sometimes for the generall â—ompany of professed Christians liuing in any one or more ages thus we call the prime Christians in the Apostles time and the neere adioyning ages wherein the assemblies continued Orthodoxe and sound in the faith The primitiue Church Sometimes also the name Church is giuen to particular Congregations being members of the Vniuersall is The Church of Rome The Church of Corinth The Church of Ephesus and the like Againe in particular Churches the name of Church is sometimes giuen to the Pastors as where our Sauiour saith Tell it vnto the Church Sometimes to the people as may appeare by Saint Pauls charge giuen to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Take heed saith he vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you Ouerseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne blood Sometimes the name Church includeth both Pastors and people as in the Reuelation where it is said To the seuen Churches which are in Asia is meant both the Angels or Ministers of those Churches and the Candlesticks or Churches themselues as afterwards it is expounded In this sense is it so often said Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches These distinctions as heereafter we shall see are of great vse for the cleering of many necessary truthes And first of all from hence we may deriue the true definition of the Church whereunto they must bee vnited that euer looke to bee saued It is out of all controuersie that such must be of the number of the Elect according to the first Notion of the Church as hath beene shewed before vpon the point of Election being the first grace and fountaine of all other graces accompanying saluation But yet because the Elect are not subiect to the eyes of men but are onely knowne to God the sacred Scriptures direct vs euery where to the visible Church according to the second Notion for whomsoeuer God doth elect vnto the end those he doth appoint vnto the meanes tending to that end Such therefore as desire saluation must ioyne themselues to the visible Church by the ordinary way and meanes of Effectuall calling Iustification and Sanctification all which Graces expresse themselues visibly to the eye of the world by their effects and properties causing the faithfull to shine as a light in a darke place Let vs come then to the definition of the visible Church which I cannot better commend vnto you then in the words of our Church of England and it is this The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithfull men in the which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same Where we haue the essentiall parts of a true definition namely The generall common matter whereof the Church is materially constituted in these words A congregation of faithfull men And the difference whereby the Church is formally distinguished from all other societies partly in the former words partly in these words following viz. In the which the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments duly ministred c. To open the definition more distinctly and plainely We call the Church A congregation of faithfull men to distinguish it both from Ciuill and Prophane societies that are without as also from Hypocrites and vnsound members that are within the Church but not of it Againe we say that the Church is a congregation of faithfull men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments duly ministred according to Christs ordinance to distinguish the Orthodoxe and true Church from Hereticall assemblies which maintaine doctrine against the foundation as also from Idolatrous and superstitious societies who serue not God aright according to his will reuealed in his Word but after the inuentions and Traditions of men concerning whom Christ alledging the Prophet saith In vaine they doe worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men We adde further In all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same both to meete with will-worshippers as also with Schismaticall conuenticles who make euery externe and indifferent ceremonie an essentiall part of the worship of God and therefore flye the assemblies of the most Orthodoxe Churches for such externall rites as if they were grosse Idolaters and not lawfully to bee communicated withall From this definition thus explained wee gather three remarkable points carefully to be noted of all that laying aside all preiudice and partiality desire to bee rightly inâ—ormed in what Church they may finde saluation 1. That it is wheresoeuer the society of the faithfull may be found and is not alledged or tyed to any one particular place or person 2. That it is to be discerned from all others by the purity and soundnesse of Doctrine and by the due administration of the Sacraments 3. That it admitteth nothing as of necessitie to saluation or as an absolute and necessary part of Gods worship that is not consonant to the Word of God and according to Christs ordinance in the same Touching the first point that wheresoeuer the society of the faithfull is there is the true visible Church and is not locally or personally tyed to any let Saint Peter the prime Bishop of Rome as they call him determine it Of a truth saith he I perceiue that God is no accepter of persons but in euery nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Heere is no one Africa in it no one Cartenna no one person or order of Bishops whereunto the Church should be tyed Heere is no Italie no one Rome no one Pope or succession of Popes challenging an allegation or dependance of all Churches vpon it but where true faith and the feare of God is there is the Church of Christ. This was reuealed to S. Iohn in a vision where we may see that the Church is the company of the redeemed out of euery kindred and tongue and people and nation Hee receiued no reuelation concerning any one eminent place aboue all others vpon which all other Churches and their members should depend as their Oracle onely this was shewed vnto him by vision that that great Citie which then raigned ouer the Kings of the earth and that wee know was Rome was resembled to a woman called The great Whore by whom the Kings and inhabitants of the earth haue beene made drunke with the wine of her fornication If our Romists like this let them take it and make much of it wee enuy them not When the Apostles conuerted any to the Faith did they direct them to any particular Country Citie or Church of note and namely to Rome as whereunto they
wee haue opened the first branch of our definition of the Church shewing that the true Church is the company of the faithfull of what nation or countrey soeuer and that it is not tyed to any person or place no not to Rome Because many thousands were saued that neuer knew it and before euer it was Christian Romes authority ouer others is in no Scripture in no Creed it is but a particular Church and member onely of the Vniuersall as others are and subiect to errour as well as others The second branch of the definition of the Church is That it is discerned from all other societies by soundnesse of Doctrine and due administration of Sacraments Touching Doctrine it is the eare-marke of Christs sheepe My sheepe heare my voyce It is that whereby the faithfull are directed to try the true Pastor from the Impostor the Orthodoxe from the Hereticall Ye shall know them by their fruits Therefore S. Iohn counselleth not to beleeue euery spirit but to try the spirits whether they are of God and chargeth the elect Lady and her children thus If there come any vnto you and bring you not this doctrine receiue him not into your house neither bid him God speed And this charge he did ground vpon a Diuine rule of tryall in the words immediately going before the rule is this Whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hee hath both the Father and the Sonne And lest any should thinke it strange that the tryall of Doctrine should bee required of priuate Christians our Sauiour puts it out of doubt shewing not onely that it is and ought to be so but directeth how it may be done for hauing said My doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Hee giueth them a double rule which being obserued they may discerne of Doctrine the one concerneth the Hearer the other the Teacher The rule concerning the Hearer is If any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe that is If a man in humilitie and sinceritie of heart seeke to be informed in the truth and as God from time to time shall reueale it vnto him maketh conscience to put in practice that which hee shall heare and as Theophylact saith shall imbrace vertue and not suffer himselfe to be a slaue to enuie and hate truth before he know it such a man shall bee able to discerne of Doctrine but yet with this prouiso which there Theophylact well inserteth viz. That this is one mayne part of doing the will of God namely to search the Prophets and Scriptures Touching the second rule which concerneth the Teacher it is this He that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glory but hee that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true A good parallell distinguishing exactly the false Teacher from the true the one seeking his owne the other Gods glory By this rule wee desire all men sincerely and without preiudice to iudge betweene vs and our Romish Aduersaries Looke with an indifferent and impartiall eye into the doctrine and practice on both parts you shall find that all their doctrines and courses wherein they differ from vs ayme altogether at the extolling of nature mans workes and merits with a glance still at the magnifying and inriching of their Romane Synagogue whereas wee with our blessed Lord make the scope of all our teaching and practice the glory of God and the praise of the all-sufficient merit of Christ. This direction of our Sauiour is sufficient alone of it selfe to prooue that the Doctrine is the right triall of the Church and Pastors of it But besides we finde the Congregation of the faithfull described in the Acts of the Apostles by this very note that they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine And the Thessalonians are commended that they receiued the Word of God not as the word of man resting vpon the bare authority of the Teacher but as it is in truth the Word of God They that rested vpon men vnder the name and colour of the Church and chiefe gouernours of the Church the chiefe Priests and Elders of the people did crucifie Christ whereas they that examined the Doctrine by the Word of God did beleeue If therefore ye will approoue your selues to bee the Disciples of the Gospell that is true Christians yee must walke saith Athanasius by the rule of the Scriptures It is sound Doctrine then grounded vpon the Word of God that the Christian soule must rest vpon for the discerning of the true Church for whether it bee concerning Christ or concerning his Church saith S. Augustine or touching any other thing pertaining to faith and life If wee or an Angel from heauen teach any otherwise then that which yee haue receiued in the Scriptures let him bee accursed As for the Sacraments that they are also discerning notes of the Church I need heere to say nothing in regard that it hath beene sufficiently shewed before that they are so peculiar to the Church that the one cannot bee without the other Concerning the third branch of the definition of the Church That it admitteth nothing as necessary to saluation or as an absolute part of Gods worship that is not according to the Word and Ordinance of Christ. This fully completeth and perfecteth the definition of the Church which must bee as pure in her Religion and worship as shee is sound in her Doctrine that there bee no mixture of mans inuention with Gods Ordinance for in the seruice of God the hypothesiâ— or condition of the Prophes must euer hold good If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him God will haue all or none Hee cannot abide that his fâ—are that is his religious worshâ—p should be taught by the precepts of men and therefore accounteth it vaine worship and meere lost labour when the commandements of men are taught and held for Doctrines and as it were rules and principles of necessity to be obserued This must bee seriously considered for the better meeting with two aduersaries which doe assaile truth on both sides with their different extremes The one is the Romanist who hold that the ceremonies of the Church may not bee omitted without grieuous sinne inasmuch as they haue spirituall vertue and are parts of Diuine worship and withall are meritorious And they father this conceit vpon the power which they attribute to the Church to institute suo iure that is by her owne right such Ceremonies and therefore to make their followers plyable they teach them as a mayne principle of their Religion that they must obey with equall respect in regard of saluation the Mothers precept as well as the Fathers Mandate but they neuer consider that the true
of Saints for as the Doue found no rest for the sole of her foote but was faine to returne into the Arke againe so let a man compasse the whole world yet shall he neuer bee able to finde rest to his soule till by entering into the Church he take Christs yoke vpon him Let him with Salomon try all things vnder the Sunne pleasures riches honours and what the world can afford he shall at the last be driuen to cry out Vanitie of vanities and conclude when all is done He are the end of all Feare God and keepe his commandements for this is all of man all his duty and all his dignity and without this all that a man is or hath is but meere vanity So much for the first branch The next point to be considered is What that Church is where saluation is to be had A very necessary question for these times wherein we liue in regard there is not a sect or faction in all the Christian world that doth not challenge the name of the Church to it selfe But wee must know that there is nothing more childish then to boast of the name of a thing when the thing it self is wanting We haue a maxime in Logick A nomine ad rem non valet consequentia To argue from the name to prooue that the thing is so because it is so named is an argument inconsequent Our Sauiour â—eâ—s the Church of Smyrna that there are that say they are Iewes and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan And to the Church of Sardi he saith I know thy workes for thou hast a name that thou art aliue but thou art dead The Church of the Laodiceans was of al the rest of the Seuen Churches in the worst condition being neither cold nor hot as we may see in that our Sauiour giueth them not any one commendation at al as he doth to the rest of the Churches giuing them their due praise notwithstanding he doeth withall taxe them for their errours no doubt to this end both to shew his detestation of luke-warmenesse and that where luke-warmenesse in Religion is there is no goodnesse to be expected Yet these Laodiceans as fâ—rre as they were from the true zeale of Religion did notwithstanding boast themselues to bee rich and lacke nothing whereas indeed they were wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked It is therefore a very silly and simple part to take men at their bare word as our seduced Romanists doe in so waightie a matter as Religion is The men of Berea are commended for that they searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so or no euen which Paul himselfe taught And it is recorded to the praise of the Church of Ephesus that they had tried them which said they were Apostles and were not and had found them lyers And indeed it is veritie that we ought to looke for and not suffer our selues to be carried away with words and shewes For whosoeuer is a good and true Christian saith S. Augustine must know that wheresoeuer hee shall finde truth it belongs to his Lord. Let vs therefore search into this truth that so wee may finde out the true Church where saluation is to be had The Greeke word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it doth signifie a company an assembly or congregation of people called together and is sometime taken for ciuill meetings in Townes and Cities or humane societies sometimes for Ecclesiasticall assemblies and meetings of the Church and people of God as in our Text and euery where is Scripture and Ecclesiasticall writers It is also vulgarly vsed for the place where the congregation doth meet to performe Religious seruice but improperly and abusiuely and is therefore reprehended by Laurentius Valla Many saith hee call sacred Temples by the name of the Church but I know not by what right for indeed the word doth signifie a congregation of men not places Which I would intreate you the rather to note because our Aduersaries in their Rhemes Testament doe with such spightfull words traduce vs for translating Congregation rather then Church They would make the world beleeue with their Bragadochio Campian that the very name of the Church is a Scar-crow to Protestants They might haue moderated their sharpe censure considering that the Translation was answerable to the propriety of the Greeke word or they might haue opened their eyes and looked into our Booke of Articles published twenty yeeres before their Rhemes Notes did see the light or they might haue seene if they had not beene wilfully blinde that in our Booke of Common Prayer the word Church is ordinarily vsed in euery passage in our Prayers and Collects in the administration of our Sacraments in the celebration of Matrimonie in the confession of our Faith at euery meeting of the Church By all which euidences it may appeare how farre the Church of England is from any distaste of the name of the Church But indeed they had their answere long agoe that their Note is false and foolish and that the Translator rather vsed the word Congregation then Church to auoide ambiguitie but after the people were taught to distinguish of the word Church and to vnderstand it for the mysticall Body of Christ the later Translators vsed that terme not that the other was any corruption or the later any correction but to declare that both is one Leaue we the word and come to the thing and matter it selfe The Church out of which there is no saluation is set foorth vnto vs in a diuerse Notion not that there is any more then one true Church but because that one Church is considered in a diuerse respect and is in the parts of it of a different condition The name of the Church comprehendeth sometimes the whole company and congregation of the faithfull that euer were are or shall be to the end of the world within this Notion are included not onely that part which is Militant in earth but that also which is Triumphant in heauen yea the very Angels themselues Therefore it is said that by Christ God hath reconciled all things vnto himselfe and set at peace through the Blood of his Crosse both the things in earth and the things in heauen These are the elect inuisible knowne onely to God in the iudgement of veritie and certaintie The Lord saith the Apostle knoweth who are his and knowne to men onely in the iudgement of Charitie as we may see by the same Apostle to the Thessalonians distinguishing the sound members of the Church from the counterfeit But wee ought to giue thankes alway to God for you brethren beloued of the Lord because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation In a second Notion by the Church is vnderstood the society of those which make externall profession of the truth